Automatic door lock mechanism for safes, strongboxes and other receptacles



June 20, 1961 H. M. CARTER 2,988,911

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK MECHANISM FOR SAFES, STRONGBOXES AND OTHERRECEPTACLES Filed Aug. 2, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HEzE/v Mam-5K.

2,988,91 1 NGBOXES June 20, 1961 H. M. CARTER AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKMECHANISM FOR SAFES, STRO AND OTHER RECEPTACLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledAug. 2, 1957 FIGJO.

INVENTOR. HElE/V/W. CARTER. 4

June 20, 1961 H. M. CARTER 2,988,911

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK MECHANISM FOR SAFES, STRONGBOXES AND OTHERRECEPTACLES Filed Aug. 2, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR HELEN M.GQATER.

United States Patent 2,988,911 AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK MECHANISM FOR SAFES,STRONGBOXES AND OTHER RE- CEIPTACLES Helen M. Carter, 903 Park Ave., NewYork, N.Y. Filed Aug. 2, 1957, Ser. No. 676,004 11 Claims. (Cl. 70314)This invention relates to improvements in looks for safes, especiallythe kind generally known as combination locks.

One drawback with such locks is the fact that when the handle is turnedinto closed position, the dial must be spun to break up the openingcombination. If this is not done, any unauthorized person can open thedoor of the safe by just turning the handle into open position.

It is therefore one of the objects of this invention to provide meansaffording automatic scrambling of the combination of the lock uponturning of the control handle therefor into closed position therebylocking said handle in secure position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means conducive to asimple and foolproof combination-lock construction in connection withsafes, in particular for home use etc.

Yet a further object of the invention resides in the provision of meansfor automatically closing the door of a safe after the same has beenunlocked and after a predetermined lapse of time and of further meansfor simultaneously automatically resetting the control handle from aprevious open position to its starting or closed position in which thelatter position the aforesaid automatic scrambling mechanism of the safelock combination is initiated.

These and many other objects of the invention will become furtherapparent from the following detailed description, reference being madeto the accompanying drawings, showing preferred embodiments of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same,

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a safe door and frame made according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the operating mechanismemployable in the invention;

FIG. 3 shows schematically the mechanism in locked position;

FIG. 4 shows schematically the mechanism in unlocked door position;

FIG. 5 shows schematically the mechanism immediately after the handlehas been turned to closed position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial view of the ratchet wheel deviceincorporated in said mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic and fragmentary view of a combination mechanismin locked position;

FIG. 8 schematically indicates a plurality of combination disks inunscrambled position;

FIG. 9 schematically indicates a plurality of combination disks inaligned position;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the locking mechanism according to theinvention in open position;

FIG. 11 shows the arrangement of combination disks in open position andreferred to in the specification.

FIG. 12 is a front elevation of a safe door and frame of anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 represents a section on line 13-13 of FIG. 12 of a timecontrolled door closing mechanism according to this embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a section on line 14- 14 of FIG. 12 showing the mechanism forresetting the control handle, with the latter in closed position;

2,988,911 Patented June 20, 1961 FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic andfragmentary view on line 15-15 of FIG. 14 showing the control handle inclosed position;

FIG. 16 represents a section on line 14-14 of FIG. 12 showing themechanism for resetting the control handle, with the latter in openposition;

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic and fragmentary View on line 17-17 of FIG. 16showing the control handle in open position;

FIG. 18 is a section on line 1414 of FIG. 12 showing, in part, themechanism for resetting the control handle, with the latter in openposition; and

FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic and fragmentary section on line 19-19 of FIG.18.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 6, there is shown at 20* asafe with a door 21. This door 21 has the conventional hinges 22, acombination dial 23 and a handle 24. The door 21 is conventionallysecured by latching means including bolts 25 'as indicated in dottedlines.

The dial 23 consists generally of the fixed ring 26 and Q a spinningring disk 27. All these parts are conventional in safes and safe locks.Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a metal housing or box 28 having acover 30. A shaft 29 extends through the door 21 from the dial 23 to thebox 28. Secured on the inside of the safe and the box 28 is a flanged'wheel 31 having a recess 32 for a purpose later described. The wheel 31is also provided with a square extension 32a thereby connecting a disk36 to the dial 23. Conventionally, there are three disks 36, 37, 38 inthis form of combination dial. However, the change in connection withthis invention incorporates a shaft 39 integral with the disk 36. A key40 connects a ratchet wheel 41 having the teeth 42 to the shaft 39.

To prevent the ratchet wheel 41 from turning while manipulating the dialpreparatory to the opening of the safe, a segmental tooth cover 46 (FIG.3) is interposed at the points of contact of teeth 42 of the ratchetwheel and arm 69 later described. This cover 46 is operated by disk 77by means of links 47, 48; a bell crank 49 interconnecting the latter issecured to a fulcrum 50.

The fulcrum 50 is integral with the housing cover 30. Also secured tothe housing cover 30 is a cylinder 55. Mounted within the cylinder 55 isa piston 56 provided with a sleeve 57 integral therewith. The sleeve 57is provided with a slot 58 which is in engagement with a pin 59, whichin turn is integral with a shaft 60, thus preventing the turning of thepiston on the shaft. The shaft 60 is provided at one end with a head 61.Its other end passes through a bearing 62, connecting by means of a link63 with disk 77 at 64. The cylinder 55 is provided with a bleeder hole65 (FIG. 4) and a vent hole 66 which can be closed at the proper momentby valve flap 67. A spring 68 normally urges the piston head 56 towardthe left or, in other Words, toward the vents 65 and 66.

Secured to the sleeve 57 is an arm 69 having an extension with teeth 70.The safe lock is conventionally closed when a bolt interferes with thefree rotation of disk 77 by means of a tongue 76. Connected to the disk77 by means of pins 78 are the locking bolts 25. FIG. 7 illustrates thelocking device in closed position. To permit the disk 77 to rotateclockwise into opening position, it is necessary to move the bolt 75 outof the way of tongue 76. For this purpose any conventional combinationlock is employed. Shown as an example is a sleeve 88 (FIG. 2), which isintegral with the cover 30. Rotatably mounted on this sleeve 88 are thepreviously mentioned disks 37, 38. Disks 37, 38 as well as disk 36, aremade in two parts divided by serrated cut forming teeth.

The combination of the disks is changed by this means in conventionalmanner. A hook-shaped arm 90 (FIG. 7) is swingably secured to the bolt75. This bookshaped arm 90 carries the hook portion 91, which inoperative position (FIG. 10) engages a wheel 92 by means of a recess 93.The bolt 75 is formed with an enlarged portion 94 inside the housing 28.When slots 97, 98 and 99 of respective combination disks 36, 37 and 38are in alignment (FIG. 9), a pin 96 of the hook arm 90 can drop into theslots when placed through correct combination. Thus, the last turn ofthe dial 23 will cause the hook arm 90 to slide the bolt 75 inwardly,the same entering the recess 32 of the flanged wheel 31. The bolt isguided by a screw 105 slidably engaging a slot 106.

The operation of the device is as follows: The dial 23 is spun inopposite directions, usually once to the right, then to the left, andthen again to the right. This will conventionally permit the lever orhandle 24 to be turned in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 1). With thehandle 24 in the position as shown in FIG. 4, the disk 77 will haveturned in a clockwise direction, thereby interposing segmental toothcover '46 between teeth 70 of arm 69 and the teeth 42 of ratchet wheel41. The three bolts 25 pivotably secured to disk 77 are then moved intoposition shown at 25a (FIG. 10) and removed from the wall 210 of thedoor 21, thereby unlocking the safe.

When the handle 24 is again turned into closed position, the aforesaidmechanism will assume the condition shown in FIG. 5. The guard 46 isadapted to be moved into position between teeth 70 and ratchet wheel 41to prevent the meshing of teeth 70 with ratchet wheel 41. Disk 77 nowbeing returned to the position similar to that shown in FIG. 3, thesegmental cover 46 will have moved in an anti-clockwise direction to itsoriginal position, similar to that shown in FIG. 3, thereby permittingthe engagement of teeth 70 of arm 69 with the teeth 42 of ratchet wheel41. The shaft 60 and shaft head 61 will have moved to the right in thecylinder 55. The spring 68 will then force the piston head 61 of piston56 toward the vent 65 which will permit the air to escape very slowly,thus delaying the travel of the piston 56. The teeth 70 of arm 69secured to sleeve 57 will turn the ratchet wheel 41 (FIG. 6) and thusscramble the combination of the lock. Initial closing rotation ofratchet wheel 41 will cause the pivoted arm 90 to pivot counterclockwiseand the hook 91 will remain in recess 93. Further rotation causes thescrambling of the disks 36, 37 and 38. This is achieved since wheel 92does not lie in the same vertical plane as arm 90.

Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 19, there issecured within the right-hand wall 120a of safe 120 a conventional timemechanism 125. A hinge pintle 130 passes through a gear 126 which is inmesh with another gear 127. Swinging of the door 121 which is formedwith a flanged portion 121a will cause the gear 126 to rotate the gear127, which in turn will load the spring (not shown) of the timemechanism 125. When the door has been unlocked and opened, the timemechanism 125 will after a time lapse cause the door to swing shut.

As shown in FIGS. 14 to 19, shaft 132, to which is secured handle 124 ofthe door 121, is held in place by means of disk 177 and is provided witha lug 133 rotatably displaceable with that shaft in recess 134 of door121, this recess being provided with a cover or guide plate 135 for theshaft. Slidably mounted in bore 135a communicating with recess 134 ofthe door 121 is a first pusher rod 136, one end 136a of which abutsagainst lug 133, its other end 146 contacting a second pusher rod 137,which is slidably mounted in bore 138a communicating with recess 139 ofthe left-hand wall 12% of the safe. Pusher rod 137 is provided with head138 upon which impinges coil spring 140 mounted in the recess 139 of thesafe wall.

A plunger 141 provided with an upwardly extending detent lug 141a and ahead 143 is slidably mounted in bore 142 disposed below and at a rightangle with respect to bore 138 in the left-hand wall 12% of the safe.Communicating with bore 142 is a recess 145 containing a coil spring144, the pressure of which causes the plunger 141 to protrude from thewall b, when the door 121 is open. With the door open and plunger 141 inprotruding position, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, lug 141a is in thepath of head 138 of the pusher rod 137, thereby restraining the actionof spring and preventing this rod from protruding out of the wall 12% ofthe safe.

When the door 121 is closed, as shown in FIG. 16, its flanged portion 121a forces plunger 141 into bore 142 against the action of spring 144,thereby displacing the lug 141a from the path of pusher head 138 andreleasing the action of spring 140. Spring 140 forces plunger 137 tomove out of the left-hand wall 12%, thereby engaging the adjacent end146 of pusher rod 136 and sliding the latter from the position shown inFIGS. 16 and 17 into the position shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. The end 146aof pusher rod 136 will now have forced lug 133, and with it, shaft 132,to which it is secured, together wit-h handle 124, back into lockedposition.

Simultaneously with the turning of shaft 132 to locked position, ascrambling mechanism, such as that to that illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 11and including parts comparable to the teeth 70, guard 46 and ratchetwheel 41, connected with the shaft 132 and combination lock 123 will bebrought into operation and scramble the combination lock.

It will be thus seen from the foregoing description that there has beendisclosed a device for automatically locking a safe and scrambling thecombination lock thereof following a predetermined lapse of time afterthe safe is unlocked, with the safe door in closed position, said devicecomprising motive means actuated by the lock mechanism itself, forreturning the lock mechanism to locked position and for simultaneouslyscrambling the combination lock, link means operatively connecting saidmotive means and the lock mechanism, first means associated with saidmotive means to restrain the actuation of said motive means for apredetermined lapse of time after the safe is unlocked, and second meansfor looking the safe, while simultaneously scrambling the combinationlock of the safe and returning the handle of the safe to closedposition.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that suchobvious changes and modifications be embraced by the annexed claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a safe provided with a spinning ring, disk type, combination lockand a lock control handle secured to a lock bolt bearing disk in thesafe door, rotatable to move the lock bolts into open position forunlocking the safe, and closed position for locking the safe; automaticmechanism for scrambling the combination lock of the safe and lockingthe safe following a predetermined lapse of time after it is unlockedand the safe door is closed, comprising a ratchet wheel operativelyconnected with the spinning ring disk of the combination lock and withthe lock bolt bearing disk, a ratchet arm actuable by and operativelyconnected to said lock bolt bearing disk, and capable of engaging withand rotating said ratchet wheel, whereby said spinning ring disk may bespun to scrambled position, and said lock bolt bearing disk operativelyconnected to said ratchet wheel may be rotated into closed position,spring means for operating said ratchet arm, said spring means becomingoperative when the safe is unlocked, and spring retarding means fordelaying the movement of said ratchet arm and said ratchet wheel, saidspring means engaging said spring retarding means so that when the lockcontrol handle and the lock bolt bearing disk are turned to openposition to unlock the safe, and the safe door is closed, said springmeans becomes operative after a predetermined lapse of time to actuatesaid ratchet arm and said ratchet wheel for turning the lock boltbearing disk and moving the lock bolts into closed position therebylocking the safe and simultaneously spinning the disk into scrambledposition.

2. In a safe provided with a combination lock, a lock control handle forlocking and unlocking its safe door with and from a wall member in thesafe, and a time mechanism for closing the unlocked door at apredetermined time after the opening thereof; a device for automaticallylocking said door and for scrambling the combination lock after apredetermined lapse of time upon the closing thereof; said devicecomprising a rotatable shaft extending through the safe door and securedto the lock control handle, said shaft being operatively connected withthe combination lock, first spring-open ated means in the wall member ofthe safe and engaging with said rotatable shaft and second means in thesafe door cooperating with said first spring-operated means and withsaid shaft for turning said shaft and said control handle to lockingposition upon closing of the safe door, spring-operable detent means inthe wall member of the safe, movable into the path of movement of saidfirst spring-operated means when the safe door is open, and displaceablefrom the path of movement of said first spring-operable means when thesafe door is closed, and a flanged portion the safe door for engagingand displacing said detent means from the path of movement of said firstspring-operated means after a predetermined lapse of time upon closingof the safe door, whereby when the safe door is closed, said flangedportion engages and displaces said detent means from the path ofmovement of said first spring-operated means, and said firstspring-operated means moves said second means and said rotatable shaftand control handle into locked position while simultaneously scramblingthe combination lock.

3. A safe comprising a wall having an opening therein, a door forclosing said opening, hinge means pivotally mounting said door on saidwall, latching means carried by said door engageable with said wall tosecure said door to said wall in a closed position, a handle foractuating said latching means mounted in said door and engaging saidlatching means, a combination lock mounted in said door, saidcombination lock being engageable with said latching means, door closingmeans associated with said hinge means for closing said door, handleoperating means mounted in said door engageable with said handle foractuating said handle to move said handle to a closed position to securesaid door, and scambling means mounted in said door and associated withsaid combination lock for scrambling said combination lock, said handleoperating means including a spring-operated plunger in said doorengaging said handle for turning said handle to a closed position,spring-operable detent means in said wall and movable into the path ofmovement of said plunger when said door is open, said detent means beingdisplaceable from the path of movement of said plunger when said door isopen, said door having a flanged portion engageable with said detentmeans to displace said detent means from the path of movement of saidplunger when said door is closed.

4. A safe comprising a wall having an opening therein, a door forclosing said opening, hinge means pivotally mounting said door on saidwall, latching means carried by said door engageable with said wall tosecure said door to said wall in a closed position, a handle foractuating said latching means mounted in said door and engaging saidlatching means, a combination lock mounted in said door, saidcombination lock being engageable with said latching means, door closingmeans associated with said hinge means for closing said door, handleoperating means mounted in said door engageable with said handle foractuating said handle to move said handle to a closed position to securesaid door, and scrambling means mounted in said door and associated withsaid combination lock for scrambling said combination lock, saidcombination lock including a spinning ring disk and a lock bolt bearingdisk engageable with said latching means, said scrambling mechanismincluding a ratchet wheel operatively connected with said spinning ringdisk and with said lock bolt bearing disk, a ratchet arm actuable by andoperatively connected to said lock bolt bearing disk for rotating saidratchet wheel, spring means for operating said ratchet arm connectedthereto, and spring retarding means for delaying the movement of saidratchet arm and said ratchet wheel, whereby said spring means becomesoperative after a predetermined time to actuate said ratchet arm andsaid ratchet wheel to move said latching means to a closed positionwhile turning said spinning ring disk to a scrambled position, saidhandle operating means including a spring-operated plunger in said doorengaging said handle for turning said handle to a closed position,spring-operable detent means in said wall and movable into the path ofmovement of said plunger when said door is open, said detent means beigdisplaceable from the path of movement of said plunger when said door isopen, said door having a flanged portion engageable with said detentmeans to displace said detent means from the path of movement of saidplunger when said door is closed.

5. A safe comprising a wall having an opening therein, a door forclosing said opening, hinge means pivotally mounting said door on saidwall, latching means carried by said door engageable with said wall tosecure said door to said wall in a closed position, a handle foractuating said latching means mounted in said door and engaging saidlatching means, a combination lock mounted in said door, saidcombination lock being engageable with said latching means, door closingmeans associated with said hinge means for closing said door, handleoperating means mounted in said door engageable with said handle foractuating said handle to move said handle to a closed position to securesaid door, and scrambling means mounted in said door and associated withsaid combination lock for scrambling said combination lock, said doorclosing means including a timing mechanism in said door for actuatingsaid door closing means, said timing mechanism including a spring, saiddoor having a first gear thereon, said hinge means including a secondgear engaging said first gear, said second gear being rotated by saidtiming mechanism upon action of said spring to close said door uponlapse of a predetermined period, said handle operating means including aspring-operated plunger in said door engaging said handle for turningsaid handle to a closed position, spring-operable detent means in saidwall and movable into the path of movement of said plunger when saiddoor is open, said detent means being displaceable from the path ofmovement of said plunger when said door is open, said door having aflanged portion engageable with said detent means, to displace saiddetent means from the path of movement of said plunger when said door isclosed.

6. A safe comprising a wall having an opening therein, a door forclosing said opening, hinge means pivotally mounting said door on saidwall, latching means carried by said door engageable with said wall tosecure said door to said wall in a closed position, a handle foractuating said latching means mounted in said door and engaging saidlatching means, a combination lock mounted in said door, saidcombination lock being engageable with said latching means, door closingmeans associated with said hinge means for closing said door, handleoperating means mounted in said door engageable with said handle foractuating said handle to move said handle to a closed position to securesaid door, and scrambling means mounted in said door and associated withsaid combination lock for scrambling said combination lock, said doorclosing means including a timing mechanism in said door for actuatingsaid door closing means, said timing mechanism including a spring, saiddoor having a first gear thereon, said hinge means including a secondgear engaging said first gear, said second gear being rotated by saidtiming mechanism upon action of said spring to close said door uponlapse of a predetermined period, said handle operating means including asprin operated plunger in said door engaging said handle for turningsaid handle to a closed position, spring-operable detent means in saidwall and movable into the path of movement of said plunger when saiddoor is open, said detent means being displaceable from the path ofmovement of said plunger when said door is open, said door having aflanged portion engageable with said detent means, to displace saiddetent means from the path of movement of said plunger when said door isclosed, said combination lock including a spinning ring disk and a lockbolt bearing disk engageable with said latching means, said scramblingmechanism including a ratchet wheel operatively connected with saidspinning ring disk and with said lock bolt bearing disk, a ratchet armactuable by and operatively connected to said lock bolt bearing disk forrotating said ratchet wheel, spring means for operating said ratchet armconnected thereto, and spring retarding means for delaying the movementof said ratchet arm and said ratchet wheel, whereby said spring meansbecomes operative after a predetermined time to actuate said ratchet armand said ratchet wheel to move said latching means to a closed positionwhile turning said spinning ring disk to a scrambled position.

7. In a closure arrangement for a wall having an opening and a door forclosing said opening which door is equipped with hinge means pivotallymounting said door on said wall; latching means carried by said doorengageable with said wall to secure said door to said wall in a closedposition, a handle for actuating said latching means mounted in saiddoor and connected to said latching means, a combination lock mounted insaid door, said combination lock being engageable with said latchingmeans, said combination lock including a toothed wheel, handle operatingmeans mounted in said door and engageable with said handle for actuatingsaid handle to move the latter to a closed position, and scramblingmeans including a toothed member mounted in said door, said toothedmember engaging said toothed wheel of said combination lock forscrambling said combination lock, said door closing means including atiming mechanism in said door for actuating said door closing means,said timing mechanism including a spring, said door having a first gearthereon, said hinge means including a second gear engaging said firstgear, said second gear being rotated by said timing mechanism uponaction of said spring to close said door upon lapse of a predeterminedperiod of time.

8. A closing arrangement for a wall having an opening, a door forclosing said opening, hinge means supporting said door for movement intoand out of said opening to open and close said opening, latching meanscarried by said door and movable between positions in engagement withsaid Wall to lock said door to said wall in a closed position and aposition clear of said wall to release said door, a combination lockmounted on said door including a member engageable with said latchingmeans to prevent movement of said latching means out of engagement withsaid wall when said combination is scrambled but releasing said latchingmeans when not scrambled, said hinge means including means to move saiddoor to a closed position after a predetermined interval after it hasbeen opened and including means connected to said latching means andsaid combination lock means and effective to move said latching meansinto engagement with said door to lock said door after said door ismoved to a closed position and to scramble said combination after saidlatching means is moved into engagement with said door.

9. A closing arrangement for a wall according to claim 8, wherein saidlatching means includes a bolt slidable on said door into engagementwith said wall and handle means connected to said bolt to shift saidbolt between locking and releasing position.

10. A closing arrangement for a wall according to claim 8, wherein saidhinge means includes time delay means.

11. A closing arrangement for a wall having an opening, comprising adoor for closing said opening, a hinge supporting said door for swingingmovement into and out of said opening, a displaceable latching boltmounted on said door for displacement into and out of engagement withsaid wall, a combination lock mounted on said door including a memberengageable with said sliding bolt to prevent withdrawal of said bolt outof engagement with said wall when said combination is scrambled butreleasing said bolt when not scrambled, time delay means connected tosaid hinge and effective to close said door by swinging it about saidhinge after it has been opened a predetermined length of time, and meansconnected to said time delay means, said latching bolt and saidcombination lock effective to move said latching bolt into a closedposition in engagement with said wall after said door is closed by saidtime delay means and to scramble said lock after said bolt is in a doorlocking position.

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